OLD BIKE AUSTRALASIA: 41GILERA SATURNO BIALBERO
ENGINE Liquid-cooled, dohc, single cylinder,
4-valves per cylinder.
Cams driven by toothed belt.
BORE X STROKE 92mm x 74mm
CAPACITY 492cc
COMP. RATIO 9.5:1
INDUCTION Dell’Orto PHM 40 VS carburettor
MAX POWER 45.1 bhp (at crank)
LUBRICATION Wet sump with gear pump.
IGNITION Nippondenso CDI
PRIMARY DRIVE Spur Gears
FINAL DRIVE Chain
GEARBOX Five speed
FRAME Tubular steel, triangulated
with engine as stressed member.
SUSPENSION Front: Marzocchi 40mm forks
Rear: Marzocchi single shock
BRAKES Front: Single 300mm disc
with Brembo 4-piston calliper
Rear: Single 240mm disc
with brembo 2-piston calliper.
WHEELS/TYRES Front: 110/70 17
Rear: 140/70 17
WHEELBASE 1410mm
WEIGHT (dry) 140kg
FUEL CAPACITY 20 litre
TOP SPEED 184 km/h
1988 Gilera Nouvo Saturno Bialbero
Specifications
The Saturno returns
Sitting proudly on the Gilera stand in Milan was a
startling looking sports roadster, resplendent in rich
red décor – the Nouvo Saturno Bialbero (dual cam) –
which used the 500 Dakota engine in an all-new
tubular steel trellis chassis. But the real surprise of
this model was the fact that it was not completely
a Gilera concept, but a collaboration with the
Japanese trading house C.Itoh.
At this time, the Japanese market was alive with
innovative single cylinder four strokes and there
was a rapidly emerging cult which clamoured for
anything different. Immediately following the Milan
Show, the Nuovo Saturno was flown to Japan for the
Tokyo Show on December 20, 1987. The new
machine had been co-designed by Gilera engineer
Sandro Columbo and his Japanese counterpart N.
Hagiwara. The idea was to create a very desirable
cafe racer which would be available in both 350cc
and 500cc variants, both with electric starters.
Unlike the Dakota models, which used twin
carburettors, the Nouvo Saturno used a single
40mm Dell’Orto. The trellis frame was specially
made for the new model, using steel tubing for the
main chassis with an aluminium alloy swinging arm
that featured chain adjustment via eccentrics. In
order to keep weight to a minimum, cast alloy was
used for the footrests, rear brake lever, gear lever
and, should it be required, the kick starter.Racing style seat is
surprisingly comfortable.Plenty to look at in the cockpit.Cruising through historic
Millthorpe – definitely the
only Gilera in town.